There are four different groups of individuals in Buddhism: the monk or Bhikkhu, the nun or Bhikkhuni, the layman or Upasaka, and the laywoman or Upasika. The first two kind of individuals are those who see the danger of the secular world and choose the monastic life to undertake self-training in search of spiritual truth to free themselves from suffering. They devote their lives to the monastery. They are regarded both as teachers and as guardians of the Buddha's teaching. The other Buddhists because they are primarily concerned with the affairs of secular life. They have less time to cultivate Buddhist spirituality because of their occupational, familial, and social concerns. Much of their religious activity involves cultivating moral behavior, earning merit, and providing support the monks and the monasteries. This includes the daily offering of food to the monks and the donating of other  requisites when needed. They help in the construction and maintenance of monasteries and temples and in the restoration of the old buildings. Many elderly lay Buddhist spend special periods in the monastery observing the eight or the ten precepts and practicing meditation.